Signs of the Times - January 2012 - (Page 66)

SPECIAL TOPIC: NEW ADA REGULATIONS Four Major Elements of the New ADA Remember these basic rules when devising ADA graphics. By Craig Berger I’ve been educating about and environmental-graphicsigndesign professionals Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) regulations for 10 years (especially during the last year on behalf of Nova Polymers). Many key issues arise repeatedly. Every month, like clockwork, my e-mail inbox fills with many basic regulatory questions. Not only are fabricators and designers asking, but some local, code-enforcement officials inquire as well. The new ADA code requirements become mandatory nationwide March 15, so it’s timely to provide a primer on four key issues. Widespread lack of knowledge about these essential areas has hindered creativity in producing ADA-compliant signage, and nullified many improvements the code provides. Temporary/permanent distinctions All sections I refer to below are in 2009’s update of ADA guidelines. A novel idea in the new ADA is to specifically prescribe where ADA signs will be installed. The new ADA has a chapter devoted to required ADA sign locations. Its most vital elements follow: “Section 216: Signs 216.1 General. Signs shall be provided in accordance with 216 and shall comply with Section 703. EXCEPTIONS: 1. Building directories, menus, seat and row designations in assembly areas, occupant names, building addresses, and company names and logos shall not be required to comply with 216. 2. In parking facilities, signs shall not be required to comply with 216.2, 216.3, and 216.6 through 216.12. 3. Temporary [seven days or less] signs shall not be required to comply with 216. 4. In detention and correctional facilities, signs not located in public-use areas shall not be required to comply with 216.” The exemptions for prisons, directories, occupant names and parking facilities are quite clear (though I still get questions about them). However, defining temporary signage can be tricky. Does “seven days or less” refer to the length of time a temporary facility is open, the sign’s duration, or something else? Is it open to interpretation? This gray area is often construed to mean facilities that can’t quickly be repurposed for another use should be marked with a permanent designation. In other words, restrooms, cafeterias, media rooms with special equipment, or auditoriums with specific names should be marked by full names on signs, while offices and other, easily changeable spaces may retain a simple alphanumeric address system. Character spacing Sometimes, a small, sign-code omission enormously impacts sign designs. See if you can spot this one: Under Section 703.2 under Raised Characters, there’s “703.2.7 Character Spacing. Character spacing shall be measured between the two closest points of adjacent This sign, designed by Calori & Vanden-Eynden (NYC) using Raster® braille, shows another permanent location. If the location was considered temporary, only the address would be needed. 66 SIGNS OF THE TIMES / JANUARY 2012 Erie Custom Sign (Saginaw, MI) built this Raster braille sign with multiple materials. The ADA further defines that braille can be developed with several approaches and components.

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Signs of the Times - January 2012

Signs of the Times - January 2012
Contents
ST Update
Technology Update
Vinyl Apps
Strictly Commercial
Lighting Techniques
The Moving Message
Technology Review
Sign Museum News
New Products
A Global Village
Crane Truck Roundtable
Remembering the Struggle
Four Major Elements of the New ADA
ADA Opportunities and Challenges
The Value of Signs
Ramsay Sign Celebrates Centennial
Industry News
Advertising Index
Editorially Speaking

Signs of the Times - January 2012